Synapse: Health Career Explorations

Annual Summer Program for Washington and Multnomah County High School Students

Synapse summer camp, hosted by the Oregon Healthcare Workforce Institute Area Health Education Center (OHWI AHEC), is a health careers pathway program strongly supported by Oregon's existing education and training network to recruit and support local underrepresented and disadvantaged high school students to increase their interest in pursuit of a healthcare career.  The program is designed to build self confidence, engage students in experiential learning, provide diverse role models, increase familiarity with the college campus environment, and create a sense of belonging.  Students participate in workshops, tours, job shadows, panel discussions, simulation labs, and a variety of additional hands-on activities.

Synapse online registration opens in March, each year.  In 2024, Pacific University Synapse will be hosted on the Hillsboro campus, June 17-21.  University of Portland Synapse will be hosted June 24-28 on the Portland campus.  Scholarships, provided through funding from Worksystems, Inc. and CareOregon, are provided to all qualifying students.

Qualifications for priority selection for Synapse participation:

• Rising junior or senior (will be a junior or senior the following academic year)
• Demographics: first generation college; low SES; underrepresented minority
• Attending high school in Washington or Multnomah counties (home school and online school students accepted)

Students interested in registering for Synapse need to see their school counselor for the scholarship code.

Register for Pacific Synapse here.

Register for University of Portland Synapse here.